Hermetically sealed spray packages and needle valves therefor



June 5, 1956 E. H. SEYMOUR HERMETICALLY SEALED SPRAY PACKAGES AND NEEDLEVALVES THEREFOR Filed March 6, 1953 v4 7 6 m v. mflm o \i L E R NH m 5 gE f M I 7 MW... 4 E E United States Patent O HERMETICALLY SEALED SPRAYPACKAGES AND NEEDLE VALVES THEREFOR Edward H. Seymour, Sycamore, Ill.

Application March 6, 1953,,Serial No. 340,726

Claims. ((31. 222- 148) This invention relates to hermetically sealedspray packages such as those used for packaging and dispensing liquidsuspensions of finely divided solid materials, and more particularly tohermetically sealedpaint spray packages.

Such spray packages as now-commonlyavailable involve a container, aneedle valve at the'top of the con-- tainer, and a discharge tubeextending from this'needle valve to a point near the base of thiscontainer. The suspension within this container is maintained under thepressure of a liquefied gas, such as a halogenated hydrocarbon, e. g.,methyl chloride, dichloro-difluoro meth ane (Freon l2),dichloro-monofiuoro methane (Freon 21), or dichloro-tetralluoro ethane(Freon'l-l4); Upon opening of the needle'valve the'suspension escapes,-un-' der'the pressure of the liquefied gas. This release of pressurecauses the liquefied gas to expand, atomizing the suspension and thusproducing a fine sprayor mist.

Spray packages and particularly paint spray packages now commerciallyavailable have two objectionable features. First, there is the tendencyof the suspension, under the influence of the pressure of the liquefiedgas at thetop of the container, to flow up the discharge .tube forming acolumn of relatively-dense suspension in this, tube in contact with thevalve seat. This tendency is aggravated by the user, when holdingthepackagepthe warmth of the hand or hands is imparted to the contents ofthe package increasing the temperature. Hence, the pressure exerted bythe liquefied gas increases, which in turn increasesthe tendency of thesuspension. to flow up through the discharge tube. .In the case ofpaint-spray packages it is not uncommon. for a column'of paint to formin the discharge tube in contact withnthe valve seat, which columnprevents; discharge of the paint when the valve is opened. I v

A secondobjectionable featureis that the needle valve heretoforeemployed involve too many parts and must be secured in place on-the'container wall by1weldingor similar operation, thus addingmaterially tothe cost of the package.

It is among thegobjects of this invention to provide a spray packagewhich is provided witha. needle valve designed to rninimize, if notcompletely prevent, clogging of the discharge tube It isanotherobjectlof thisinvention to provide, aspray package equippedwithwhat might well be characterized as a self-cleaning needle valve.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a needle-valve .fora spray package consisting of relatively fewfparts, which is economicalto manufacture and .which can readily be secured in place on the:container.

Still another object of this invention is to provide such needle valvewhich can be firmly secured in placeby simply ;assembling the parts andwithoutrequiring any welding,; brazing, or otheranalogous ioperation==for securing the; yalveeto the container,

Other objects and advantagesof this invention will .be-

apparent from the following detailed description thereof.

In accordance with this invention the needle-valve stemis provided justbelow the seat with a portion extending within the discharge tube andmovable with the valve stem in a direction away from the valve seat intothe discharge tube so as to dislodge or loosen any accumulation.

of material within the discharge tube adjacent the valve' seat. In thisway a cleaning or loosening action is exerted on theimaterial'within thedischarge tube, particularlysolid-material in the tube and efiect itsremovalther'e from, thus efiecting the cleansing-of the discharge tube.

Further in accordance with this invention the needle valve is composedof relatively few parts, preferably four, namely:

1. A female member provided with an opening in part at least ofgenerally concave'shape. This female mem-' her is arranged to engage aninside Wall of the portion of the container, e. g., the top on which thevalve is mounted.

2. A male member having aprojecting portion at least a part of which iscongruent with the openingin the female member. The male member isadapted to engage the outer wall of the container on which the valve ismounted. Seating of the projecting portion within-the female mem-, bersecurely locks these two members on the container and firmly secures theneedle valve in place thereon. These members are made of elasticcompressible material, such as polyethylene, neoprene, other syntheticrubber, or vinyl resins, e. g., Koroseal, Formvar, Alvar, Butvar, etc.The particular compressible material chosen will depend on the substanceor composition packaged and should be of a chemical composition suchthat it will not deleteriously affect the contents of the package. For.use in theproduction of paint spray packages polyethylene is thepreferred material from which to produce these two members because it ischemically inert to the'paints and is readily compressible andexpansible to an extent permitting the insertion of the one member intothe other to firmly secure the resultant assembly, in place on the paintcontainer Without requiring any additional fasten; ing means.

3. A stem provided with a valve seating surface reciprocating in alignedopenings in members 1 and 2 above and arranged to seat on a valve seatat thebase of the female member.

4. A spring on the stem for maintainingthe valve closed. Compression ofthe male member which, as above noted, is of compressible elasticmaterial opens the valve against the action of the spring. Release. ofthe compressive force on the male member causes the spring to close thevalve.

It will be'understood the above novel needle valve construction isgenerally applicable to spray packages and other packages irrespectiveof the material packaged,

In the preferred embodiment illustrated on the drawing the invention isshown incorporated in a hermetically sealed paint container and thedescriptionwhich follows will be confined to the present illustratedembodiment of the invention. It will be understood, however, that thisinvention is not confined to such paint packages but is applicable tohermetically sealed. packages for. storing, distributing and applyingsuspensions of finely divided solid materials in a liquid medium. Asabove indicated, .the needle valve construction of this invention isapplicable wherever-needle valves may be used.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification andshowing, for purposes of exemplification, preferred forms of thisinvention without limiting the claimed invention to such illustrativeinstances:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view partly in elevation of ahermetically sealed container embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary vertical section through the valve andcommunicating discharge tube of Figure 1; Figure 2 is on a greatlyenlarged scale as compared with Figure l; and

Figure 3 is a composite view partly in vertical section and partly inelevation of a modified form of spray package embodying my invention.

In the drawing referring to Figure 1, 13 indicates a container,desirably of aluminum, steel or other material, comprising a cylindricalside wall 11, a base 12 and a top or closure 13. In the embodiment ofFigure 1, relative to the interior of container both the base 12 and top13 are of convex shape, i. e,, the base from its peripheral edges iscurved upwardly providing a convex surface in the interior of thecontainer on which solid material may collect and from which such solidmaterial may more readily be removed than in the case of a flat orconcave surface.

The top 13 of the container 10, as above noted, is of convex shaperelative to the interior of the container, thus providing a concave orrecessed portion 14 at the top of the container. In this portion 14 aneedle valve 15 is positioned centrally of the container with its topdisposed somewhat below top edge 16 of container 10. In this way theneedle valve 15 is protected by the peripheral upper edge portion 16 ofthe container during handling and storage, and damage to the needlevalve is minimized. The peripheral edges of the base 12 and top 13 aresuitably fastened to the bottom and top edges of the cylindrical sidewall 11 to form the interlocked top and bot tom peripheral edges 17which seal the upper and lower edge portions of the container againstingress of air or egress of the contents of the container. The containeris thus hermetically sealed; as a practical matter access to theinterior thereof cannot be had without destroying the package.

Extending from the needle valve 15 is a discharge or siphon tube 18.This tube desirably extends to a point near the base of the container.It may be of metal or other suitable material of construction. A body ofpaint 19 consisting of a vehicle, such as linseed oil, etc., partiallydissolved in a volatile solvent, such as methyl chloride,dichloro-difiuoro methane (Freon l2), dichloromonofluoro methane (Freon2l), dichloro-tetrafluoro ethane (Freon 114), etc., and having suspendedtherein a pigment in finely divided form is disposed within container10. The volatile solvent maintains the solution under superatmosphericpressure; the pressure depends on the particular solvent used and thetemperature of the container 10.

During storage pigment will tend to settle to the bottom 12 and collectthereon. In accordance with the invention of my Patent 2,580,132,granted December 25, 1951, the container may be provided with anagitator or redispersing member 21. This agitator may be made of amaterial such as steel, metal or plastic of a specific gravitysubstantially greater than that of the paint. Hence, it settles to thebottom of the container and rests thereon. The agitator desirably isshaped as disclosed in my aforesaid patent to provide relatively sharpelongated cutting edges which contact the pigment adhering to the baseof the container and upon agitation of the contents of the containerremove the pigment from the base so that it becomes redispersed in thevehicle.

In accordance with this invention the valve 15 is composed of a femalemember 22 provided with an opening 23 coaxial with the axis of thefemale member and extending from top to bottom thereof thus forming anaxial bore passing completely through this member. An intermediateportion of opening 23 is defined by three truncated conical sections 24,25 and 26 leading into a cylindrical section 27 disposed at the top ofthe female member 22. Cylindrical section 27 and truncated conicalsection 26, which, it will be noted, has its sides sloping inwardly fromtop to bottom toward the longitudinal axis of the opening 23, form afunnel shaped entering portion, the function of which will be explainedmore fully hereinafter. The truncated conical sections 24, 25 define theinterior wall of a holding portion of generally concave shape. Section24 leads into a generally cylindrical passageway 28 having a beveled end28' constituting a valve seat. It will be understood that the shape ofthe axial bore in female member 22 may be changed from that shown in thedrawing. It is important, however, that this bore have a portion thereofof generally concave shape for a purpose hereinafter explained fully.The top of female member 22 is arranged to abut the underside of the top13.

A male member 29, desirably shaped as shown in Figure 2 of the drawing,cooperates with fcmaie member 22 to form with the latter member thevalve body. Male member 29 consists of a head 30 and a projectingportion 31, the outer periphery of which is congruent with the innerwall of sections 24, 25 and 26 of opening 23. The funnel shaped enteringportion defined by conical section 26 and cylindrical section 27 permitsthe ready entry of projecting portion 31 into seating position inopening 23 of female member 22.

Members 22 and 29 are each composed of compressible elastic material, asnoted above. When assembling these two members the projection 31 on malemember 29 is passed through an opening 32 in the top 13 and is forcedinto the congruent opening in the female member 22. The resiliency orelasticity of the material of construction of these two members permitssuch assembly of the two members with the top 13 clamped between theunderside of head 30 and the top of female member 22, as shown in Figure2. When thus assembling these parts flange 33 defining the opening 32 intop 13 is bent or flexed into the position shown in Figure 2. A gastight joint thus results between the valve and the top 13 and the valveparts are firmly seated on the top 13.

A valve stem 34 having a valve seating surface 35 arranged to seat onthe valve seat 28 is mounted for reciprocatory movement in channel 36within male member 29. The valve seating surface 35 and the cooperatingseat 28 desirably are of truncated conical shape. Integral with orsuitably fastened to a laterally extending cylindrical portion 36 onwhich the valve seating surface 35 is disposed is a projecting stem 37.This stem 37 may have its peripheral edge roughened and may extend thefull strength of the tube 18, or any desired portion of the length ofthis tube. Preferably it extends at least the major portion of thelength of the tube 18, if not the entire length of this tube.

A spring 39 encircles the upper portion of the valve stem 34. Desirablyvalve stem 34 has its top end flanged, as at 41, to provide a holdingmember between which and the ledge 41 on the female member 22 the springis compressed. For example, the valve stem 34 may be formed with arecess 42 at its top enabling the upper edge portion to be bent over bymeans of a suitable tool to form flange 41 after the spring 39 ismounted on the stem to hold the spring, desirably under some tension,between flange 41 and the ledge 41.

A discharge outlet 43, which may be lined with metal or other suitablematerial, as indicated at 44, leads from the channel 36 laterally in agenerally upward direction.

In constructing the spray package in accordance with this invention thefemale member 22 is first placed on the underside of the top 13 in theposition shown in Figure 2. The male member 29 having the valve stem 34with the spring 39 thereon is then positioned with the projection 31passing through. opening32 in top .13. This-projection is forced intothe congruent opening in .thefemale mem-- ber 22 thus securelylockingthese two memberson the top 13. The needle valve assembly is thussealed to the top by means of a gas tight joint and this withoutrequiring any welding or brazing.

The assembly of top and needle .valve includingthe discharge tube 18 isthen mountedon the cylindrical container consisting of the side wall 11andthe base 12, the peripheral edges of the top and side Wall .beingcrimped or otherwise fastened to form the sealed edges 17 at the top ofthe package. The paint may beinsertedin the package before securingthetop tothe side. walls In accordance with well known fillingpractice,the paint is introduced into the container under refrigeration at atemperature at which the liquefied gas is in the liquid phase so that ithas substantially no vapor pressure at the temperature at which thefilling is carried out. The contents of the container are subjected tosuperatmospheric pressures as it warms up to atmospheric temperature.

In order to eifect dispensing of the contents of the container it isonly necessary to compress-the. male member 29. Since it is ofpolyethylene or other elastic compressible material, the application. ofpressure to the top. of this member effects compression thereof. Thiscauses the stem 34 to move downwardly away from the seat 28' against theaction of spring 39.: -Material within the tube 18 flows through thevalve thusopened, channel 36 into and through discharge outlet 43. Asthe suspension along with the'liquefied gas enters the atmosphere,expansion of the liquefied gas-takes place with consequent atomizationof the suspen'sion'producing a fine spray or mist.

It will be noted that in the case of spray packages for paints and othersuspensions embodying this invention, the column of suspended materialwhich may form within discharge tube 13 is dislodged or loosened everytime the needle valve is opened. This takes place due to member 36' andstem 37 moving downwardly within tube 18. While this movement linearlyis relatively; small, of the order of or even less, it does effectloosening of the contents of the suspension within the tube 18., Thus,as cylindrical portion 36' moves downwardly the column of materialwithin the tube is dislodged. from its position contiguous to valve seat28'. Furthermore, as projecting stem 37 moves downwardly it forms achannel through this column or mass of material within the tube 18, Thisloosening and/or channeling is suflicient to permit the liquefied gas toflow up through the tube 18 carrying with it the vehicle for the paintand the pigment effecting almost instantaneously the removal of thecolumn of material within the discharge tube 18, thus cleansing orclearing this tube and permitting flow therethrough.

The modification of Figure 3 differs from that of Figure 1 chiefiy inthat instead of having the top of the container of concave shape, asshown in Figure 1, the top of the container is dome shaped. Thus, in theembodiment of Figure 3, the top of the container has a truncated conicalportion 45 merging into a cylindrical portion 46. The latter in turnmerges into a truncated conical portion 47 having a top opening 48 inwhich is fitted a closure member 49. The valve 15 may be secured toclosure member 49 in the same manner as the valve is secured to the top13 shown on an enlarged scale in Figure 3. A cover may be provided forthe closure member 49 to protect the valve. Similarly, the container maybe provided with a cover for its top.

.l t will be noted this invention provides a spray package andparticulariy a paint spray package the needle valve or" which is sodesigned as to minimize, if not completely eliminate, clogging of thedischarge tube. In other words, the needle valve is substantiallyself-cleaning. Furthermore, the needle valve consists of relatively fewparts which can easily be assembled on the container and this can beaccomplished without welding or braz- 6 ing anypart of .the'valve tothe. portionof the container? on which it is mounted. Notwithstandingthe mounting of the needlevalve withoutthe use of a welded or brazedjoint, a gas. tight. seal between thevalve and. the containerv results.7

Since certain changes may be made-in the package or needle valvetherefor embodying this invention without. departing. from the scope ofthis invention, it is intended that=all matter containedin the abovedescription or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted asillustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a hermetically sealed con-- tainer' fordispensing liquid suspensions of finely-divided solid material, aself-cleaning valve comprising a valve body having a valve bore throughwhich material is dispensed,-a valve seat at the inlet end-of said valvebore,-a valve stem having a valve seating surface arranged to seat onsaid valve seat to close said valve, a discharge tube extendingdownwardly from the inlet'end of said valve bore in a direction towardthe --base of said container, and a discharge tube cleaning memberextending from immediately below said valve seating surface into anddown through said discharge tube and arranged to move any accumulationof solid material within the tube to loosen said material and permitflow therethrough when the valve is opened, said discharge tube belowsaid valve seating surface being completely free of any obstruction toflow therethrough except for said valve cleaningmem; ber.

2. In combination with a hermetically sealed container for-dispensingliquid suspensions of finely divided solid material, a self-cleaningvalve comprising a valve ,body having a valve bore through whichmaterial is dispensed, a valve seat at the inlet end of said valve bore,a valve stem having a lateral extension provided with a seating surface,a discharge tube extending downwardly from the inlet end of said valvebore to a point near the base of said container, said lateral extensionbeing movable in said discharge tube in a direction away from said seatto open said valve and in a direction. toward said seat to close saidvalve, and a discharge tube cleaning stem projecting downwardly withinsaid discharge tubefrom immediately below said lateral extension andmovable therewith, said cleaning stem extendingv through the majorportion of the length of said discharge tube and said discharge tubebelow said lateral extension being completely free of anyobstruction. toflow therethrough except for said cleaningstem.

3. In combination with a hermeticallysealed container comprising a topfor said container having a centrally disposed opening therein, a valvecomprising a female member of compressible elastic material having itstop abutting the underside of said top of said container and itslongitudinal axis substantially coaxial with the center of saidcentrally disposed opening in said top of said container, said femalemember having an opening passing through the full length thereofsubstantially coaxial with the longitudinal axis of said female member,said opening having an intermediate portion of generally concave shapeand having a valve seat on its base, a male member of compressibleelastic material having a head portion adapted to engage the top of saidcontainer and having a projection of a shape congruent with the saidintermediate portion of generally concave shape, the two members beingclamped on said top of said container by the forces exerted bycompressing said projection and disposing it within said intermediateportion of generally concave shape, said male member having a channelcoaxial with and communicating with the base portion of said openinghaving a valve seat thereon, said male member having a discharge outletin the head thereof communicating with said channel, a valve stemdisposed within said channel having a seating surface for setting onsaid valve seat to close said valve and arranged to be moved away fromsaid seat to open said valve, and a spring on said stem for normallymaintaining the said seating surface in contact with the valve seat,compression of said head moving said valve stem in a direction to opensaid valve.

4. The combination as defined in claim 3, in which a discharge tubeextends from said valve seat at the base of the female member in adirection toward the base of said container, and a cleaning stemprojects downwardly from the seating surface on said valve stem and isdisposed within said discharge tube.

5. In combination with a hermetically sealed container comprising a topfor said container having a centrally disposed opening therein, a valvecomprising a female member of compressible elastic material having itstop abutting the underside of said top of said container and itslongitudinal axis substantially coaxial with the center of saidcentrally disposed opening in said top of said container, said femalemember having an opening passing through the full length thereofsubstantially coaxial with the longitudinal axis of said female member,said opening having an intermediate portion of generally concave shapeand having a valve seat on its base, a male member of compressibleelastic material having a head portion adapted to engage the top of saidcontainer and having a projection of a shape congruent with the saidintermediate portion of generally concave shape, the two members beingclamped on said top of said container by the forces exerted bycompressing said projection and disposing it within said intermediateportion of generally concave shape, said male member having a channelcoaxial with and communicating with the base portion of said openinghaving a valve seat thereon, said male member having a discharge outletin the head thereof communicating with said-channel, a valve stem havingits top in abutment with the interior of said head and having a lateralextension disposed just below said valve seat, said extension beingprovided with a valve seating surface arranged to engage said valve seatto close said valve, a discharge tube leading from said female member toa point near the base of said container, and a downwardly extendingprojecting portion disposed within said discharge tube on said lateralextension.

6. The combination as defined in claim 5, in which the downwardlyextending projecting portion on the lateral extension is a cleaning rodwhich extends for at least a major portion of the length of thedischarge tube.

7. In combination with a hermetically sealed container, a needle valvecomprising a male member of elastic compressible material having anannular portion engageable with the exterior of the container walladjacent the container wall opening through which the male member isinserted and an annular part engageable with the interior portion ofsaid container Wall adjacent said opening, and a female member ofelastic compressible material having an annular portion engaging theinterior of said wall, said two annular portions clamping the containerwall between them, one of said members being provided with a valve seatand means movable within said members provided with a valve seatingsurface arranged to engage said valve seat to form a valve closure andmovable away from said seat to open said closure.

8. The combination as recited in claim 7, in which a discharge tubeextends from said valve seat towards the base of said container and thesaid valve seating surface has a cleaning stem projecting downwardlythere from into said discharge tube.

. In combination with a hermetically sealed container,

a valve comprising a male member having an annular portion engageablewith the exterior of the container wall adjacent the container wallopening through which the male member is inserted and an annular partengageable with the interior portion of said container wall adjacentsaid opening, and a female membcr having an annular portion engaging theinterior of said wall, said two annular portions clamping the containerwall between them, both the male and female members being ofcompressible elastic material, the male member having an axial borewhich is coaxial with the axis of an opening in said female member, avalve stem mounted for reeiprocatory movement in said axial bore andhaving a valve seating surface thereon, and spring means on said valvestem for maintaining the said seating surface thereon in sealingengagement with a valve seat on the female member.

10. The combination as defined in claim 9, in which the female memberand male member are composed of polyethylene.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,986,447 Rishel Jan. l, 1935 2,372,392 Fletman Mar. 27, 1945 2,401,391Vale et al. June 4, 1946 2,513,272 Bowen July 4, l950 2,573,624 SvendsenOct. 30, 1951 2,579,977 SjOlin Dec. 25, 1951 2,580,132 Seymour Dec. 25,1951 2,592,130 Erb et a1. Apr. 8, 1952

